The Czechoslovak Review/Volume 4/Number 6/The Month in Czechoslovakia

The Month in Czechoslovakia

Parliamentary elections are over. Constitutional government is functioning. Vladimir Tusar, who was chief of the coalition cabinet, is again premier of the new ministry. In this body the Social Democrats have 5 portfolios, the Agrarians 4, the National Democrats 2, National Socialists 2, and, the Slovaks 2, one of whom is a Social Democrat. Apparently the political atmosphere has calmed down after a tempestous pre-election campaign. It seems as though partisanship has been buried to promote the welfare of the nation.

 

The new Czechoslovak Ministry consists of the following:

Tusar—Premier and Acting Minister of Public Defense.

Švehla—Minister of Interior.

Beneš—Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Engliš—Minister of Finance.

Šrobár—Minister of Public Health and Unification of Administration.

Staněk—Minister of Posts and Telegraphs.

Haberman—Minister of Education.

Stříbrný—Minister of Railways.

Meisner—Minister of Justice.

Vrbenský—Minister of Public Works.

Sonntag—Minister of Commerce.

Johannis—Minister of Food Supply.

Prášek—Minister of Agriculture.

Derer—Minister with special powers for Slovakia.

Hotovec—Minister without portfolio, in charge of organization of foreign commerce.

 

At the joint session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate held on May 27th, the former election of the President of the Republic was solemnly ratified by the newly elected national assembly. All the Czechoslovak deputies and senators, without regard to party affiliations, cast their votes for President Masaryk. German nationalist members gave complimentary votes to M. Naegel, while German Social Democrats cast blank votes. President Masaryk received 284 votes, Naegel 61 votes and 16 were blank.

 

In the first session of the Chamber of Deputies František Tomášek, social democrat, was elected speaker. Tomášek served as speaker of the first National Assembly and as such gained universal approbation for his ability, impartiality and patriotism. In the new chamber he received the votes of all the Czechoslovak deputies with some German votes in addition. The total membership of the chamber is 288; there were 281 votes cast of which Tomášek received 249. The president of the first senate of the Czechoslovak Republic is Dr. Cyril Horáček, former minister of finance, member of the republican party of the countryside.

 

Teschen is still the vexing problem. Press reports indicate that serious clashes have taken place between the Czechs and the Poles. Czech political, labor and social organizations of Teschen have united in a protest to the Czechoslovak government against a decision of the international commission which permits persons having no domicile within the disputed areas to vote at the coming plebiscite. They also protest against the action of the Polish National Assembly as being the source of the terroristic regime. Again the plebiscite has been adjourned—this time to July 12th—and it is doubtful if it will be held then. Another serious difficulty is the utter disregard of Czechoslovak passports by Polish authorities. Czechoslovak citizens, carrying proper credentials, have been imprisoned on slightest pretexts. Only through the energetic intervention of consular agents were they released.

 

The Czechs are very confident as to the result of the plebiscite in Teschen, while on the other hand the Poles are despondent and begin to talk of resorting to arms. It is conservatively estimated that there will be 260,000 votes cast in favor of Czechoslovakia as against 180,000 in favor of Poland.

 

Regular aeroplane connection between Paris and Prague will be established on June 15. The flight between the two capitals will be accomplished ordinarily in five hours.

 

The last of the Czechoslovak troops evacuated Siberia on May 15th and boarded transports a few days later. Thus “Finis” to the last chapter of a modern “Anabasis” is written.

 

Marshal Foch is to visit Prague in the near future. He is to be followed, in a very short time by President Deschanell.

 

The strike of German River Transportation Workers is causing untold hardship in the republic. Sadly needed food stuffs are held in transit between Hamburg and Dresden. One thousand car loads of flour are marooned near Dresden, 2,200 car loads of grain and flour are somewhere between Hamburg and Dresden, and, 8,800 car loads of cereals are in Hamburg. In the strike Czechoslovakia has no interest, it is purely a German internal affair. The leaders of the strikers were invited to Prague by the government for a conference in an attempt to relieve the situation. From late accounts nothing has been accomplished. In the role of an innocent bystender Czechoslovakia must suffer.

 

Conversations, pursuant to the Treaty of Peace, held in Prague between representatives of Austria and Czechoslovakia regarding rights of citizenship and the protection of minorities indicate that an accord has been reached. Protocols are being framed based on the findings of the commission to be submitted to the respective governments for ratification. The next sittings will be held in Vienna, when additional subjects will be considered.

 

The Sokol (Falcon) meet opened June 5th with appropriate ceremonies. Months were spent in careful preparations to make this tournament a success. Numberless foreign visitors are expected. Prague is in gala attire for the occasion. The number of contestants will be large, the competitions thrilling, close and exciting.

 

The one hundreth aniversary of the birth of Josef Mánes, a leading Bohemian painter, was observed throughout the republic with appropriate ceremonies on May 14.

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Edward Beneš, transmitted a note to M. Tchicherin advising him that a Czechoslovak commission, with proper instructions and full powers, will be sent out to meet a similar body to be named by him (Tchicherin) to agree upon establishing peaceful relations with Russia.

 

Slovaks dwelling in the eastern portion of Slovakia have signed a memorial protesting against “foreign defamers, and we advise them (Magyars) that they give us (Slovaks) peace. We are content with our brethren, the Czechs, we desire to learn from them. In the first place we want to work. But those who desire for return of that which existed before the war let them beware, for the Eastern Slovak people will arouse their wrath.”

 

Land Reform in Slovakia received the attention of the President of the Land Board who visited Bratislava to confer with the Slovak officials in charge of local affairs. It is expected that soon the parcels coming within the scope of the law will be available for small settlers. This unquestionably will be a boom for Czechoslovakia and will raise the morale of the Slovaks.

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